Art of sealed package production



06L 1:963 w. A. WESTPHAL ETAL 3,106,050

ART OF SEALED PACKAGE PRODUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 16, 1961 1 I 11 m. n

INVENTOR. WALTER WESTPHAL EDWARD T. BARDWELL Oct. 8, 11963 w.. A. WEST'PHAL ETAL ,0

I ART OF SEALED PACKAGE PRODUCTION Filed June 16, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. WALTER WESTPHAL EDWARD T. BARDWELL ATTORNEYS.

1963 w. A. WESTPHAL ETAL 3,106,050

ART OF SEALED PACKAGE PRODUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 16, 1961 INVENTOR. WALTER WESTPHAL EDWARD T. BARDWEL L mlmJl /WM ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent Ot'fice PatentedOct. 8, 1963 3,106,050 ART OF SEALED PACKAGE PRODUCTION Walter A. Westphal, Mequon, and Edward T. Bardwell, Milwaukee, Wis, assignors to Rexford Paper Company, Milwaukee, Wis, a corporation of Wisconsin Filed June 16, 1%1, Ser. No. 125,323 8 Claims. (Cl. 53-184) This invention relates to improvements in the art of scaled package production, and more particularly to an improved method of and means for producing sealed packages especially adapted for perishable food products and the like.

It has heretofore been proposed, for the packing of perishable food products or the like, to place a pre-determined amount of the product on a flat support or base having a peripheral groove therein and to then drape a sheet of flexible, shrinkable film material over the supported product and adjacent the groove of the support. A circumferential portion of the film material thus wrapping the supported product and the support is deflected into the groove of the support with the extremities of the film material being overlapped on the outer face of the support and heat sealed together, following which the wrapped package is subjected to a heating operation which shrinks the film and pulls it out of the support groove, thus tightening the film material onto at least a portion of the product while evacuating air from the interior of the enclosure. While the method as thus proposed has advantages, it has heretofore been impossible to adapt said method to large scale, commercially practical operations for the packaging of various types of commodities.

It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide a method of and means for packaging base supported commodities, which is expeditious and commercially practical, and which is adaptable to high speed production lines.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method of and means for producing sealed commodity packages wherein the commodity is enclosed by a shrinkable sheet of film material which is tightly sealed about the commodity, and the complete package being susceptible of easy opening by the user without damage to the package contents.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method of and means for producing sealed commodity-packages which is adaptable to products of various shapes and wherein the flexible sheet material forming the wrapper is applied in close proximity to the product to provide a compact attractive and protective covering for the commodity.

A further object of the invention is to provide for use in a high speed package forming production line,

mechanical means which, after the wrapping operation,

tical, and which facilitates the manner in which the packages may be handled while maintaining full .protection, of the encased commodities.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of the improved method of and means for producing sealed packages and their parts, combinations and steps as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawings in which the same reference characters indicate the same parts in allof the views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device for applying a sheet of flexible film material to a base supported commodity and clamping the sheet of film material thereto, said view showing the units of the device in an extended inoperative position only for the purpose of illustrating the component parts;

FIG. 2 is a plan View of the superimposed units of the film wrapping device in slightly, relatively rotated condi tion to tighten certain connecting cords so that when the device is applied to a base supported commodity having a sheet of wrapping film material draped thereover, the cords upon being further tightened will force a peripheral portion of the film material into a peripheral groove on the commodity supporting base;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view of a base member on which the commodity to be packaged is supported prior to the draping thereover of a flexible wrapping sheet and commodity with the wrapping film sheet draped there-' over prior to its telescopic engagement with the wrapper applying device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view showing the application of the wrapping device to the base supported and film draped commodity prior to therelative rotation or twisting of the wrapping device sections to'force the cords and film sheet into the groove of the base disc;

FIG. 7 is a horizontalsectional view taken approximately along the line 77 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view similar to FIG. 6 only showing relative rotation or twisting of the sections of the Wrapping device to effect tightening of the cords into the grove of the base member which force a peripheral portion of the Wrapping film thereinto; 4

FIG. 9 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line '99 of FIG. 8;

'FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view showing an operational step following that shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 and depicting schematically the engagement of the edge portions A further object of the invention is to provide, in a device for producing sealed commodity packages, means for quickly and eflectively tightening the enclosing film material about the base on which the commodity is supported to thereby retain the film wrapping material in a tightly wrapped condition for further processing of the vice.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method of and means for producing sealed commodity of the wrapping film-by a tucking or folding mechanism to fold the free edges of the wrapping film in overlapped relationship against the outer face of the rigid base member;

FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional schematic view after the sheet of fi-lm material has been folded onto the outer face of the base disc and showing the application of a heat sealing device thereto;

FIG. 12 is a side view of the finished package with the sheet of wrapping material completely applied and sealed but before being'subjected to :heat to shrink the wrapper;

FIG. .13 is asimilar view :only showing the finished package after it has been subjected to heat to shrink the wrapping film and cause the withdrawal of the peripheral portion thereof from the groove of the base member; and

FIG. 14 is an exploded sectional view of the base mounted commodity ready for use after the wrapper has been removed and showing associated therewith 'a cover which can be positioned over the commodity to temporarily protect it after the package has been opened by the consumer.

Referring first to FIG. 1 of the drawings, it will be noted thatthe illustrated film Wrapping device comprises a pair of superimposed identical blocks 20, each having a similar opening 21 therethrough. Said openings 21 may be of any desire shape and sizepbut should be such as to conforin to the shape and size of 'the commodity being packaged; The drawings illustrate a device for packaging circular slices of meat or sausage and hence the openings 21 are illustrated as being of circular contour. Said openings 21 are slightly larger than a base member 22 (see FIGS. 3, 4 and 5)' on which the commodity or product to be packaged, designated 23 in the drawings, is supported, the diameter of the base 22 substantially conforming to the diameter ofthe'food product stack 23. The pair of wrapping device blocks are connected together by relatively short extents of cords 24 and the opposite ends of the cords'24 are connected to the blocks in the manner shown in FIG. 1. For this purpose, each block, outwardly of the periphery of its opening 21, is formed with a circle of spaced-apart transverse bores 24' through. which the extremities of the cords 24 are threaded and are anchoredto studs 26 on the outer faces of the blocks 20.

In :actual operation the arrangement of the parts depicted in FIG. 1 never attains, said 'view merely being for illustrative purposes. Actually, one block '20 will rest on the adjacent face of its companion block 20 in perfect registration therewith as tothe contours and block openings '21; This disposition of the pair of companion blocks causes the slack in the cords 24 to assume :a looped 'condition. Then, when the blocks 20 are relatively rotated, the portions of the cords within the outlines of the registering openings 21of the blocks will tauten and crisscross in the manner shown "in FIGS. 2, 5, 6 and 7. In this condition the wrapping device, comprising the superimposed slightly twisted block 20, is ready to be applied to the base 22 on which the stack of food products or c0mmodities'2'3 is mounted, the latter having draped thereover a suitable sheet of flexible plastic film material having thermoplastic qualities.

Then, a relative telescoping movement of the wrapping device andthe sheet draped, base-mounted commodity from the position of FIG. 5 to the position of FIGS. 6 and 7 will cause-the series of crossed cords 24 to register with a peripheral groove 27 in the base member or disc 22 with the draped wrapping sheet 25, assuming the position'shown in FIG. 6. ,A further relative twisting or rotation of the device blocks 20 will next cause the exposed extents of the taut co'rds 24 to press firmly against the peripheral portion of the wrapping sheet 25 in registry with the base groove 27 and force said peripheral portion of the wrapping sheet 25 into said base groove 27, as is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

. With the peripheral portion ofthe flexible wrapping sheet 25 deflected into the base groove 27 and with the taut cords 24 impinging against said portion of the sheet and holding the same in the groove, the assembly is then in condition for the folding and sealing together of the free flaps of the wrapping sheet 25 against the outer or lower face of the base 22. In FIG. 10 the last mentioned operation is illustrated schematically and it should be understood that the assemblage in the condition shown in FIG. '8 is advanced along the production line to the flap-folding mechanism wherein the folders designated 28'in'FIG. 10 engage the'po'rtions of the draped covering sheet 25 beyond the outer face of the base 22 and are projected by conventional means to fold the extended portions of the sheet upon themselves and against the outer face of the base 22.

Following the step described in connection with FIG. 10, the assemblage is advanced to a conventional heat seal member and, as shown in FIG. 11 the wrapping sheet material 25 which has been folded tightly against the outer face of the base has its seam subjected to heat applied by a projected electric heat sealer or non 29, which, as is common in the art, seals the film material along its seam because of the thermoplastic properties of the sheet material.

Following the step of heat sealing the seam of the overlapped portions of the wrapping sheet 25, as depicted in FIG. 11, the completely wrapped package is removed from the companion blocks 26 forming the wrapping device and the wrapped package is in the condition shown in FIG. 12, it being noted that a peripheral portion of the applied wrapping sheet 25 temporarily remains tightly deflected into the peripheral groove of the base. The wrapped package is next subjected to heat for a sufiicrently long period to shrink the film wrapping material 25, which shrinkage draws the peripheral portion of the film out of the groove of the base, as shown in FIG. 13, thus providing a slight space which may create slight air evacuation from the interior of the package.

Following labeling and other finishing packaging steps, the package as depicted in'FIG. 13 is in its completed condition and may be so displayed on the shelves in stores, ultimately reaching the consumer. The consumer can easily open the package and remove the covering sheet 25 by cutting the wrapper with a sharp instrument at its taut extent over the base groove 27. The uncovered commodity, whether it be slices of meats or other food products, is readily accessible, and before it has been completley disposed of and for protection, the base supported commodity shown in the lower portion of FIG. 14 may be temporarily covered by'a telescoping cover member 30 which is arranged with an internal shoulder 31 to frictionally engage in the peripheral groove 27 of the base 22 which supports the commodity 23.

While the base member 22 has been shown as being of circular form with cooperating circular openings 21 therefor in the companion wrapper applying blocks 29,.

it should be understood that the base member and the openings in the block members may take any desired geometrical shape to correspond with the outline of the product or commodity which is to be wrapped by the device. The blocks, comprising the wrapping'device and their cords 24, provide-an easily manipulated device for quickly and tightly applying a sheet of flexible wrapping material to the base supported commodityand'atford means for maintaining the wrapper in tight enclosing relation to the assemblage during the; various procedural steps and facilitates the handling and advance of the package along the assembly line.

From theforegoing description it will be seen that the improvedmethod of and means for producing sealed packages is simple, novel, expeditious, commercially practical and well adapted for the purposes described.

What is claimed as the invention is:

1 A wrapping'device for applying a flexible wrapping sheet about a base supported product wherein the wrapping sheet is initially draped over the product andv base, comprising a pair of companion, superimposed blocks having registering openings therein conformingfto the outline of the product supporting base and slightly larger than the latter, and a plurality of flexible connectors hav-' ing their opposite ends connected to the companion blocks at points around theperipheries of the block openings and. extending in slack condition into said openings when the blocks are superimposed and registered, the block openings being adapted to telescopically receive the base mounted and wrapping sheet draped product with the periphery of the base and the corresponding peripheral portion of the wrapping sheet being in contact with the slack connectors, a relative twisting movement applied to the blocks tightening the connectors diagonally across peripheral portions of the block openings to tightly compress said peripheral portion of the wrapping sheet against the periphery of the base and to stretch the wrapping sheet tautly over the base mounted product. 7

2. A wrapping device for applying a flexible wrap-, ping sheet about a base supported product wherein the wrapping sheet is initially draped over the product and base, and said base having a peripheral groove, comprising a pair of companion, superimposed blocks having registering openings therein conforming to the outline or" the product supporting base and slightly larger than the latter, and a plurality of flexible conectors having their opposite ends connected to the companion blocks at points around the peripheries of the block openings and extending in slack condition into said openings when the blocks are superimposed and registered, the block openings being adapted to telescopically receive the base mounted and wrapping sheet draped product with the periphery of the base and the corresponding peripheral portion of the wrapping sheet being in contact with the slack connectors, a relative twisting movement applied to the blocks tightening the connectors to cause the same to extend as chords across peripheral portions of the block openings to tightly compress said peripheral portions of the wrapping sheet into the groove and to stretch the wrapping sheet tautly over the base mounted product.

3. A wrapping device for applying a flexible Wrapping sheet about a base supported product wherein the wrapping sheet is initially draped over the product and base, comprising a pair of companion, superimposed blocks having registering openings therein conforming to the outline of the product supporting base and slightly larger than the latter, and a plurality of flexible connectors having their opposite ends connected to the companion blocks at points around the peripheries of the block openings and extending in slack condition into said openings adjacent the parting plane of said blocks when the latter are superimposed and registered, the block openings being adapted to telescopically receive the base mounted and wrapping sheet draped product with the periphery of the base and the corresponding peripheral portion of the wrapping sheet being in contact with the slack connectors, a relative winding movement applied to the blocks tightening the connectors angularly across peripheral portions of the block openings adjacent the parting plane of said blocks to tightly compress said peripheral portion of the wrapping sheet against the periphery of the base and to stretch the wrapping sheet tautly over the base mounted product.

4. A Wrapping device for applying a flexible wrapping sheet about a base supported product wherein the Wrapping sheet is initially draped over the product and base, and said base having a peripheral groove; comprising a pair of companion, superimposed blocks having registering openings therein forming a cavity and conforming to the outline of the product supporting base and slightly larger than the latter, said block members carrying a plurality of flexible cavity constricting members extending in slack condition into said cavity when the blocks are superimposed and registered, the block cavity being adapted to telescopically receive the base mounted and wrapping sheet draped product with the periphery of the base and the corresponding peripheral portion of the Wrapping sheet being in contact with the slack cavity constricting members, a relative winding movement applied to the blocks tightening said cavity constricting members to cause the same to forcefully engage said peripheral portion of the Wrapping sheet and defleot it into the base groove and to stretch the wrapping sheet tautly over the base mounted product.

5. A wrapping device for applying a flexible wrapping sheet about a base supported product wherein the wrapping sheet is initially draped over the product and base, and said base having a peripheral groove, comprising a pair of companion, superimposed blocks having registering openings therein conforming to the outline of the product supporting base and slightly larger than the later, and a plurality of flexible cords having their opposite ends connected to the companion blocks at points around the peripheries of the block openings and extending in slack condition into said openings adjacent the parting plane of said blocks when the latter are superimposed and registered, said cords being of a length to permit relative movement of the block in all directions, the registering block openings forming a cavity to telescopically receivethe base mounted and wrapping sheet draped product with the periphery of the base and the corresponding peripheral portion of the wrapping sheet being in contact with the cords, a relative winding movement applied to the blocks tightening the connectors angularly across peripheral portions of the block cavity adjacent the parting plane of said blocks to forcefully deflect said peripheral portion of the wrapping sheet into the base groove.

6. In a wrapping device for applying a flexible Wrapping sheet about a base supported product wherein the flexible wrapping sheet is originally draped over the product and base, a pair of companion, superimposed blocks having registering openings therein conforming to the outline of the product supporting base and slightly larger than the latter and forming a cavity, a plurality of flexible connectors having their opposite ends connected to the companion blocks at points around the peripheries of the block openings and extending in slack condition into said cavity adjacent the parting plane of said blocks when the latter are superimposed and registered, the block cavity telescopically receiving the base mounted and wrapping sheet draped product with the periphery of the base and the corresponding peripheral portion of the wrapping sheet registering with the slack connectors, a relative twisting movement applied to the blocks tightening the connectors angularly across peripheral portions of the block cavity to clamp said peripheral portion of the wrapping sheet against the periphery of the base and to stretch the wrapping sheet tautly over the base mounted product.

7. In a wrapping device for applying a flexible wrapping sheet about a base supported product wherein the flexible wrapping sheet is originally draped over the product and base, said base having a peripheral groove, a pair of companion, superimposed blocks having registering openings therein conforming to the outline of the base and slightly larger than the latter and forming a cavity, a plurality of cords having their opposite ends connected to the companion blocks at points around the peripheries of the block openings and extending in slack condition into said cavity adjacent the parting plane of said blocks when the latter are superimposed and registered, the block cavity telescopically receiving the base mounted and wrapping sheet draped product for wrapper applying and tensioning purposes when the blocks are relatively twisted.

8. In combination, a pair of companion, relatively rotatable, superimposed blocks having registering openings therein forming a cavity for the reception of a base supported product with a wrapping sheet draped thereover, a plurality of cords having their opposite ends connected to the companion blocks at points around the peripheries of the block openings and extending in slack condition into said cavity adjacent the parting plane of said blocks, relative rotation of the blocks tightening said cords whereby the latter engage and tauten the wrappping sheet over the base supported product and compress a peripheral portion of the wrapping sheet against the periphery of the base.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,668,403 Rumsey Feb. 9, 1954 2,697,901 Hosack Dec. 28, 1954 2,783,599 Weikert Mar. 5, 1957 2,815,624 Forrey et al Dec. 10, 1957 2,942,390 Lerner June 28, 1960 3,076,299 Lerner Feb. 5, 1963 

1. A WRAPPING DEVICE FOR APPLYING A FLEXIBLE WRAPPING SHEET ABOUT A BASE SUPPORTED PRODUCT WHEREIN THE WRAPPING SHEET IS INITIALLY DRAPED OVER THE PRODUCT AND BASE, COMPRISING A PAIR OF COMPANION, SUPERIMPOSED BLOCKS HAVING REGISTERING OPENINGS THEREIN CONFORMING TO THE OUTLINE OF THE PRODUCT SUPPORTING BASE AND SLIGHTLY LARGER THAN THE LATTER, AND A PLURALITY OF FLEXIBLE CONNECTORS HAVING THEIR OPPOSITE ENDS CONNECTED TO THE COMPANION BLOCKS AT POINTS AROUND THE PERIPHERIES OF THE BLOCK OPENINGS AND EXTENDING IN SLACK CONDITION INTO SAID OPENINGS WHEN THE BLOCKS ARE SUPERIMPOSED AND REGISTERED, THE BLOCK OPENINGS BEING ADAPTED TO TELESCOPICALLY RECEIVE THE BASE MOUNTED AND WRAPPING SHEET DRAPED PRODUCT WITH THE PERIPHERY OF THE BASE AND THE CORRESPONDING PERIPHERAL PORTION OF THE WRAPPING SHEET BEING IN CONTACT WITH THE SLACK CONNECTORS, A RELATIVE TWISTING MOVEMENT APPLIED TO THE BLOCKS TIGHTENING THE CONNECTORS DIAGONALLY ACROSS PERIPHERAL PORTIONS OF THE BLOCK OPENINGS TO TIGHTLY COMPRESS SAID PERIPHERAL PORTION OF THE WRAPPING SHEET AGAINST THE PERIPHERY OF THE BASE AND TO STRETCH THE WRAPPING SHEET TAUTLY OVER THE BASE MOUNTED PRODUCT. 